Bulldog Comeback Falls Short At Auburn, 75-71
* Official Statistics
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Rasheem Barrett scored 22 points, Daniel Hayles had 18 and both hit key free throws in the final 49 seconds of Auburn's 75-71 victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday night.
The Tigers (11-13, 3-10 Southeastern Conference) had a 20-point lead cut to three in the final minutes as Reginald Delk and the Bulldogs suddenly got hot.
But Hayles hit two free throws with 49 seconds left and Barrett hit four more to put Mississippi State (13-12, 3-10) into a tie for last place in the Western Division with the Tigers.
The Bulldogs had started 2-of-13 from 3-point range but finished with a flurry of offensive rebounds and long shots by Delk.
Jamont Gordon rebounded a missed free throw and was fouled. He hit his first free throw and Charles Gordon saved the rebound and Delk hit another quick 3 while falling backward to make it 72-69 with 29 seconds left.
Barrett hit his four foul shots after that to offset Gordon's 3 in the final seconds.
Hayles went 4-of-4 from behind the arc in the first half and finished with a career scoring high. Ronny LeMelle added 13 points while Barrett went 9-for-9 from the line for the Tigers, who were without suspended forward Josh Dollard.
Rhodes led Mississippi State with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Dietric Slater had 15 points and 11 boards before fouling out while Delk scored 16 points and had four steals.
All three picked up their third foul by the midway point of the second half.
The Bulldogs trailed 40-20 after a lackluster first half and the margin was unchanged with 8 minutes left in the game.
Then, Delk hit three 3-pointers down the stretch for Mississippi State. The hot streak wasn't enough to overcome a late first-half drought.
Auburn scored 15 consecutive points in a 23-2 outburst, holding the Bulldogs to two field goals over the final 11:45.
Hayles and Barrett combined to score the last 21 points of the half for Auburn.
Things got so desperate for Mississippi State that coach Rick Stansbury reinserted Rhodes in the final minutes of the half with three fouls.
Mississippi State had won nine of the last 10 meetings.
Dollard, a freshman forward, was suspended indefinitely earlier Wednesday for violation of team rules. He was averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.